Usually the fall is mild but we’ve already gotten a few nights of frost. Brought in my outside plants in a hurry but now I need to do some prep for the lower light and colder conditions.
Although I do have some plant lights and just bought some newer ones that will be here soon, I’d love to know what other folks do to prep houseplants for their indoor lives.
I am in Chicago and so I don’t normally bring a lot of plants inside because I’m used to just planting perennials or replanting in the spring. But I do bring a few herbs inside and I also have a lot of succulents. If you have a south facing window, put as many plants as you can in that window and here rest can get put under a grow light. Make sure that window is properly sealed so as to prevent a cold draft or frost from getting in. Now some old Chicago homes use radiant heat under the windows which actually works very well to keep your plants warm and undamaged from a cold window, but I’ve found that an electric heater under the window works just as well. I doubt it will get cold enough in the south that you would ever need to move your plants out of the window, but if it does, they can survive a few days with low light. If you have a ton of plants, consider setting up a multi tiered shelf next to the window or somewhere else with lots of grow lights. That’s my method to the madness anyway. Don’t see why it wouldn’t work further south too.
I only have 1 southern facing window and I currently have my bed up against that wall. May try to rearrange that room to out my big elephant ear and alocacia there.
I keep most of my pants on a multi level shelf by a west facing window with lights. They do ok but would love to find a set up to keep them warmer and better lit.
It’s worth mentioning that there’s no difference between grow light branded lights and regular LED bulbs. I’ve had a basic 4.5W Philips A19 LED bulb for a while now that’s only 810 lumens and my string of turtles and alocasia love it. It also used about 1¢ this past month, as per my smart plug. Just be sure to go for the whitest option available for the best effects.
I thought LED bulbs emitted light only in a few wavelengths and those didn’t align well with chlorophyll absorption wavelengths?
They work at least as well as CFL or fluorescent. The full spectrum bulbs emit all wavelengths, so that’s why it’s best to go for the harshest, whitest bulb. LED bulbs are used for most growlights.
Nice! TIL
In Kentucky, our plants usually do well in a south-facing sunroom. It isn’t heated, but it also keeps temps above 40 and blocks the wind. If we get into the 20s and lower for days on end, we may add a small heat source for them.
Give your houseplants some airflow, helps keep flies and fungal gnat numbers down.
